Comparing Cloud's Affection, Preface

The Love Triangle of Final Fantasy VII

~ Preface ~

Where does Cloud show affection for these women in the script of

Final Fantasy VII?

Aerith Tifa

The intention of this website is to examine the script of Final Fantasy VII for evidence of Cloud’s affection toward Aerith and Tifa. It has been debated for a long time which woman Cloud truly loves. Many people don’t consider the fact that the Date mechanism interferes with Cloud’s ability to make a conclusive declaration or demonstration of love to either woman during the course of the game.

There is a “mini-game” included during the play of Disk One which allows Cloud to go on a date at the Gold Saucer with Aerith, Yuffie, Tifa, or Barrett, depending on choices made in dialogue by the player. An overt expression of love occurring between Cloud and either woman would possibly conflict with choices being made by the player.

The effects of the Date mechanism also extend into the play of Disk Two, since the scene where Cloud and Tifa spend the night under the Highwind is also influenced by it. (See www.geocities.com/ffviilovetriangle/LastNight.htm for a full discussion of this.) The Date mechanism must have contributed to Cloud’s apparent neutrality to both women during the course of Final Fantasy VII, since an overt demonstration or declaration of love would potentially contradict earlier choices made by the player to show affection for another woman.

Another contributing factor which may have affected Cloud’s demonstrations of love for either woman is cultural issues, an aspect which is fully discussed at www.geocities.com/ffviilovetriangle/Introduction.htm. The idea of cultural issues interfering is substantiated by the fact that Yuna never says, “I love you” in the Japanese version of Final Fantasy X. She only says it in the North American version of the game. Therefore, Cloud’s ability to demonstrate his love was limited during the course of the game by these, and possibly other, factors.

The object of this analysis will be to look for signs of Cloud’s affection which are not influenced by these factors. Such signs of affection would include demonstrations of caring, concern, consideration, thoughtfulness, kindness, support, protection, responsiveness, and personal interest in what’s being said or done by each woman. Thinking of either woman when she is not present would be another indication of affection. Does Cloud treat Aerith and Tifa equally in this way, or do his words and actions show a preference for one woman in particular? Can Cloud’s true love be determined by looking at how he expresses his affection in ways not influenced by the Date mechanism?

~ No dialogue determined by player choice is included in this analysis, since the outcome is different for each player.

~ Verbalizations of Cloud’s past feelings are not included in this analysis since past feelings are not a conclusive indication of current feelings. If Cloud currently feels the same way he did in the past, he will demonstrate it in the current frame of events.

~ All other non-optional dialogue and interaction between Cloud and both women is included in this analysis.

This evaluation of the script for signs of Cloud’s affection will be followed by an Analysis Of The Results. The following guidelines will be used to score Cloud’s affection toward each woman while reviewing his dialogue and interaction with each woman in the script of Final Fantasy VII:

Guidelines Used for Evaluation:

1) Cloud’s words and actions have been highlighted whenever there is any evidence of caring, concern, consideration, helpfulness, thoughtfulness, kindness, support, protection, responsiveness, personal interest in what the woman is saying or doing, or any indication that Cloud is thinking of either woman.

2) The number of interactions between Cloud and each woman will also being recorded for comparison.

3) Interactions are defined as times when Cloud responds verbally or physically to either woman. Remembrances are defined as times when Cloud’s words or actions indicate that he is thinking about either woman when she is not there.

4) Scenes and dialogue determined by player choices have been eliminated, since the outcome varies for each player.

5) No dialogue has been included which concerns past feelings, since we are evaluating Cloud’s current feelings.

6) The only character’s words and actions which are being considered as evidence are Cloud’s.

Aerith highlights are in this color. Notes from me are in this color.

Tifa highlights are in this color. Scene titles are in this color.

Interactions/Remembrances are recorded in this color.